Lacrimal drug delivery device

Abstract

A lacrimal drug delivery device includes a reservoir configured to hold a drug. The reservoir is moveable between a relaxed state and an expanded state. A connector is fluidly coupled to the reservoir and a lumen is formed in the connector wherein the drug is configured to flow from the reservoir to a delivery site through the lumen. A hydrogel is within the lumen and configured to absorb the drug from the reservoir and deliver the drug from the lumen at the delivery site. The hydrogel includes a first section which absorbs the drug at a first rate of absorption. A delivery guide is detachably coupled to the reservoir to deliver the reservoir into a lacrimal sac of a patient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A lacrimal drug delivery device comprising:
 a reservoir configured to hold a drug, the reservoir expandable between a relaxed state and an expanded state; and   a connector fluidly coupled to the reservoir, wherein the connector is configured to receive delivery of the drug to the reservoir and configured such that the drug flows from the reservoir to a delivery site in a subject during use;   at least one lumen residing within the connector   a valve disposed at least one of: at an end of the connector or within a side of the connector; and   the valve is configured to removably receive a delivery guide and removably receive a cannula for delivering drug to the reservoir;   and a face plate fluidly coupled to the connector and defining an exit point for the drug to flow to the delivery site.   
     
     
         22 . The lacrimal drug delivery device of  claim 21 , wherein the valve comprises a one-way valve. 
     
     
         23 . The lacrimal drug delivery device of  claim 21 , wherein the connector comprises a single lumen for both receiving delivery of drug to the reservoir and delivering drug to an eye of a subject. 
     
     
         24 . The lacrimal drug delivery device of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the connector comprises at least a first lumen and at least a second lumen, and   the second lumen is configured to removably receive the delivery guide.   
     
     
         25 . The lacrimal drug delivery device of  claim 21 , wherein the face plate is coupled to the connector and is configured to deliver the drug to an eye of a subject during use. 
     
     
         26 . The lacrimal drug delivery device of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the face plate is fluidly connected to a first lumen and a second lumen, and   the second lumen is configured to removably receive the delivery guide.   
     
     
         27 . The lacrimal drug delivery device of  claim 26 , wherein the valve is adjacent to the face plate. 
     
     
         28 . The lacrimal drug delivery device of  claim 26 , wherein the face plate comprises a hydrogel. 
     
     
         29 . The lacrimal drug delivery device of  claim 26 , wherein:
 the face plate comprises an end piece;   the end piece defines an opening of the first lumen;   the opening is configured to deliver the drug during use; and   the face plate is fluidly connected to the connector.   
     
     
         30 . The lacrimal drug delivery device of  claim 26 , wherein at least one of:
 the face plate comprises a barb, and   the face plate is secured to the connector by an interference fit.   
     
     
         31 . The lacrimal drug delivery device of  claim 25 , wherein the face plate is joined to a portion of the connector by an adhesive. 
     
     
         32 . The lacrimal drug delivery device of  claim 21 , wherein the lacrimal drug delivery device comprises an elastic polymer or a semi-elastic polymer material. 
     
     
         33 . The lacrimal drug delivery device of  claim 21 , further comprising a hydrogel within the connector, the hydrogel being configured to absorb the drug from the reservoir and to control a rate of flow of the drug from the reservoir to the delivery site during use, the hydrogel including a first section which absorbs the drug at a first rate of absorption. 
     
     
         34 . A method of reducing onset of, or treating an ocular condition in a subject, the method comprising implanting the lacrimal drug delivery device of claim  1  into a lacrimal sac of an eye of the subject. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein implanting the lacrimal drug delivery device comprises inserting the lacrimal drug delivery device through a punctum of the eye of the subject. 
     
     
         36 . A method comprising:
 inserting a cannula through a valve of a lacrimal drug delivery device and into a connector of the lacrimal drug delivery device, wherein:
 the connector is fluidly coupled to a reservoir, and 
 a valve is disposed at an end of the connector; 
   delivering a drug through the cannula to the reservoir to expand the reservoir from a relaxed state to an expanded state; and   removing the cannula from the valve and the lacrimal drug delivery device to close the valve and seal the connector.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the valve is a one-way valve. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising implanting the lacrimal drug delivery device into a lacrimal sac of the subject before delivering the drug through the cannula to the reservoir. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising delivering the drug from the reservoir to an eye of the subject. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein:
 delivering the drug to the eye of the subject comprises delivering the drug through a hydrogel disposed in the connector.